After being shut out last night, the Cincinnati Reds will look to even up the series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Andrew Abbott will be making his second big league start and facing off against the red-hot Miles Mikolas in game two of the weekend series between the two National League Central foes. First pitch is set for 2:15pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
St. Louis Cardinals |
| TJ Friedl – CF | Tommy Edman – CF |
| Matt McLain – SS | Paul Goldschmidt – 1B |
| Jonathan India – 2B | Nolan Arenado – 3B |
| Elly De La Cruz – 3B | Luken Baker – DH |
| Spencer Steer – 1B | Dylan Carlson – RF |
| Tyler Stephenson – DH | Paul DeJong – SS |
| Will Benson – RF | Jordan Walker – LF |
| Stuart Fairchild – LF | Brendan Donovan – 2B |
| Luke Maile – C | Andrew Knizner – C |
| Andrew Abbott – LHP | Miles Mikolas – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Andrew Abbott | 6.0 | 0.00 | 0.83 | 4 | 6 |
| Miles Mikolas | 74.2 | 3.74 | 1.34 | 15 | 60 |
| Links: Andrew Abbott’s Stats | Miles Mikolas’s Stats |
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Andrew Abbott
Coming off of a Major League debut where he threw 6.0 innings with just one hit and no runs, Andrew Abbott will look to keep the good times rolling as he faced the Cardinals.
What’s been interesting this year is that left-handed hitters haven’t done a whole lot of hitting this season against Andrew Abbott, but in the minors this season 40% of the hits they did get against him went over the fence for home runs. Teams have generally avoided having lefties in the lineup against him. Right-handed hitters aren’t doing a lot, either, hitting just .154 and posting an OPS of .513 against him.
Splits (MiLB & MLB in 2023)
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 173 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 71 | .154 | .237 | .276 |
| LHH | 61 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 25 | .179 | .246 | .393 |
Pitch Usage (AAA & MLB)
| 4-seam | Change | Slider | Curve | |
| Velo | 93.2 | 86.5 | 81.8 | 79.7 |
| Usage | 53% | 15% | 26% | 5% |
Miles Mikolas
After a tough start to the season – posting a 7.46 ERA in his first five starts of the year – Miles Mikolas has turned things around over his last eight outings. Since April 27th he’s posted a 1.82 ERA in 49.1 innings and allowed just two home runs.
When it comes to splits this season for Miles Mikolas there basically aren’t any. Left-handed hitters have walked a little more often but that’s really the only difference between what they’ve done and what right-handed hitters have done.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 165 | 44 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 31 | .282 | .315 | .417 |
| LHH | 159 | 41 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 29 | .283 | .329 | .414 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | 2-seam | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.4 | 92.7 | 86.0 | 86.7 | 76.0 |
| Usage | 24% | 27% | 21% | 23% | 5% |
When and Where
- Game time: 2:15pm ET
- Where: Busch Stadium
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 84°, sunny, 1% chance of rain
News and Notes
TJ Friedl is back but Jake Fraley is out
Prior to this afternoon’s game the Cincinnati Reds activated TJ Friedl from the injured list, but they also placed Jake Fraley on it. The team also swapped relievers, sending Joel Kuhnel back to Triple-A and calling up Kevin Herget. You can read more about those moves here.
Joey Votto homers on rehab with Louisville
Last night saw Joey Votto go 1-3 with a home run and two walks for the Louisville Bats on his rehab assignment. His 414-foot home run was a part of a back-to-back showing with rehabbing Henry Ramos in the Bats big 7th inning (that also featured a home run by Christian Encarnacion-Strand).
Joey Votto doing Joey Votto things like sending an absolute rocket 414 feet to center ???
Clip of the Game ? @GreatClips pic.twitter.com/T7cqxcicJk
— Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) June 10, 2023
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Pirates | 33 | 29 | 0.0 | 22.6% |
| Brewers | 34 | 30 | 0.0 | 60.8% |
| Reds | 29 | 35 | 5.0 | 2.5% |
| Cubs | 27 | 36 | 6.5 | 7.9% |
| Cardinals | 27 | 37 | 7.0 | 22.9% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
That was close. The game almost started before the game thread. Hopefully, everyone is okay out in RLN writer land.
I know! Doesn’t leave much time for pre-game Bell-bashing.
That’s true @wkuchad, I guess we’ll have to see what we can do about that. I’m sure he’ll do something that ticks off someone. But, I was going to go easy on him at this point. He didn’t start Newman yet again.
Newman is not batting leadoff. He’s not even playing.
That already earns Bell some goodwill in my book.
Glad to see Friedl back. Too bad for Fraley. Votto showing he still has power.
McLain gets robbed big time.
McLain robbed . That ball probably home run @ GABP.
Hes seeing the ball well
“Hes seeing the ball well”
That’s the key.
Won’t win many games if the opposing pitcher only needs 8 pitches.
Fairchild robs Goldschmidt
No he did not
Ugghh. That was ugly. Hopefully AA can settle down now
Pressed him to the limits there … but at least no damage other than running up the pitch count.
Wow. Abbott so far in two starts has avoided big damage with runners on. Nice to for the first time in several days keep the opponent off the board in the first inning.
EDLC: 2 strikes looking, 1 strike swinging, go sit down.
Still, keep running him out there. Give him time to adjust and see if he can catch up with MLB pitching.
Feels like Mikolas owns us for some reason.
Mikolas looks like he belongs in the circus with those red socks and monster red shoes
Doesn’t have the nose for it, though.
Things are going to get interesting once the position players currently in IL return: Votto, Myers, Fraley, Senzel and Ramos. Who goes and who stays? Perhaps the only easy calls will be to option Hopkins and Ramos, but that’s only two spots.
I’m guessing Barrero & Fairchild are the other two. Ramos likely comes up if the Reds follow their usual pattern.
If EDLC keeps striking out, he might benefit from more time in AAA.
Barrero should probably go down as well to get consistent playing time, but I don’t know if they want to burn his last option.
After that, it gets much more difficult. The easy answer is get rid of one of the surplus catchers. Failing that, they’d have to choose between sending Benson or Fairchild down, which is unfair as both have been playing well.
The thing is, he was killing AAA pitching. Maybe the only thing that will help is giving him lots of time to adjust to MLB.
Barrero isn’t going to play regularly under Bell. That’s obvious. He needs to play regularly if he’s to develop. Benson is another guy likely headed down. EDLC? I think they need him up for the buzz and attendance. He could SO at a 60% rate and they won’t send him down.
It would be really hard for the Reds to send Benson down. He’s been one of their best hitters.
With Friedl back, there’s not really a place for Barrero. Regular AB’s would probably benefit him. Benson’s starting to hit and he’s a good outfielder. Hard to send him down.
EDLC is not going back down.
He simply needs to adjust to the MLB. And we need to be patient.
He’s being struck out on pitches and sequences he will never see at AAA. So once he proves he can handle the slow breaking pitched, it’s going to get ugly for NL pitchers.
As long as EDLC keeps a stat line of .316 ./409/.632 as he does now I personally won’t care too much if he strikes out. 😉 I’m sure you agree CI3J. Understand your point though. I’m confident he’s processing things right now and planning on adjustments.
Benson just keeps getting it done.
Can only go station to station with Benson’s hits. The guy kills that ball.
Take your time Arenado. Fairchild will make you look silly.
Good job Fairchild. Infield hit.
That puts a wrinkle in the P-stache pitcher’s day 😀
Fairchild just embarassed Arenado on the laissez-Faire grounder and maile cleans up.
What a fun team
Let’s hope this is just EDLC’s usual slow start on the next level. You have to figure he’s pressing to show he belongs. Hopefully, he relaxes over the next week or so and starts showing he’s ready. His SO rate is through the roof at the moment.
Maile better hitter than Casali.
Just when I feel like disowning my boy Stewie he’ll have a nice series against somebody. His hustle set that up
Stu plays best when he plays almost everyday and also is not looking around to see if he is being lifted because a right handed pitcher has been brought on. If the Reds don’t see him in that role for them, option him to AAA and let him terrorize the AAAA (and lower) pitching for the next 7 weeks so he can be a meaningful trade piece.
He had an .842 OPS and 11 HR in 221 AAA PAs last year. The way the ball is flying around at AAA this year, he should be able to get it into the mid .900s with the Bats at the deadline.
he just threw a perfect inning
Much better inning from Abbott.
If he can do that a few more times, he can give the Reds 5 solid innings today. Would be a nice bounce-back after the near disaster of a first inning.
Need to drop EDLC in the lineup. May be pressing hitting cleanup. Benson looking like the player he hoped he would be. Confidence is a great asset.
Today he’s going to lead off an inning at least twice.
McLain…. What a player this kid is.
Plays like a 10-year vet. A complete pro.
McClain is a pleasure to watch.
Yeah, we have taken to call him “Two Hit McLain” seems like he gets two hits every game.
Mighty Mac 🙂
Go Elly!
That works for MattyMc
And ELDC makes it happen
At least we added on
Exactly. Where the heck is Dennis? He would be loving it.
Stephenson is swinging the bat alot better. Even his outs are good swings and hits the ball hard.
Desperate times require desperate measures:
Detroit dropping 8th in a row. Work out something for Lorenzen. He’s been very good until yesterday and on a 1 yr 8 mil deal. Cost about $5 mil and wouldn’t cost that much trade wise
He sucked two games before that against the lowly Royals . Give up your man crush. Lol
Don’t cherry pick. Lorenzen had a 1.95 era in May
Stop your man crush !! Lol you aren’t getting him back.
Do you realize how many guys I’ve called for on RLN that ended up here?
Sonny, Puig, Castellanos, and a few others I can’t remember
True but you have also called for some bums as well. Don’t forget you called for Gausman and the front office let him get away.
We could do worse. Of course, a lot of teams would be interested.
A different management would also consider him a 14th fielder.
Agree Indy, Reds need a SP and they arent trading the farm or getting Shane Bieber. Krall said he wasnt ruling out buying but said things need to play out the next few weeks.
A relatively quick inning would be sweet
That works for Abbott
Abbott with 59 pitchers through 3.
A little high, but he should be able to go another 2 innings, at least.
Not bad, considering he opened with over 30 in the 1st.
9 shut out innings for Andrew Abbott
TJ a little rusty? He’s one of the straws that stirs the drink.
Yeah I expected it with no rehab assignment. Give him a couple games.
Speed kills. Infielders get nervous.
Hustle causes harassment. Live it! 😀
You should market that
I meant love it, but live it works better
Still ran up the pich count. Now shut them back down again.
If McLain keeps hitting and getting on base, do you all think he has a chance at All star game sub?
I’d hope so.
Whew!
Bike helmets!!
Lol wasn’t even close .
I’m sure glad our starter Era’s are so good we could afford to leave AA in Louisville for a month after Super 2
Fair question:
Who is the Reds Rookie of the year? I cant answer that. Id go with McLain now but Steer is good, Elly is rising and Abbott is trending.
CES says….hold my beer.
Great question OS. Now I would go with McLain but wow, end of the year it might be exciting to figure that out.
P.S. there is still time for you to get on my playoff bandwagon. Indy is being stubborn about it, so I’ll give you his seat.
Agreed. If I had to choose now, it’s McLain.
CES says, “Give me a chance”.
Playoff bandwagon??? Not there yet. Let me see a 15-12 June and the bullpen make it through over use and Luke Weaver and Williamson and Lively make a few more starts. I’ll get back to you on July 4. I am enjoying watching them play immensely however.
I’ll begin to think about a playoff bandwagon when they can start winning series consistently. I don’t think they have the starting pitching to string lots of wins together. So winning series — particularly against Milwaukee and Pittsburgh — will be key, IMO.
These kids will grow up this summer and be a quality staff by time the year is over. They have the talent and at some point will put it together. When Reds get all their hitter back and CES up, the pitchers won’t think they need to be to precise and learn to relax because the offense will keep them in the game.
McClain. Early days, but he seems to adjust quickly so he’s consistent. It would be great if Steer, EDLC, Abbot and CES challenged.
AA – Rookie of the day
EDLC – Rookie of the week
MM – Rookie of the month
Steer – Rookie of the year
Check again next month for more prizes!
Well put Optimist. Send an update next month!
EDLC has got to watch over sliding 2nd. He has done that twice now. At this level they will pick that up and start holding tags on him.
Maybe he should wear that draft slowing parachute drag racers use?
He might have too. The way he runs he might end up in left field .
Gonna chase Mikolas. He’s not sharp today.
Edman looks like a gold-glover today.
Edman is incredible today. One man highlight reel.
Stevenson let Mikolas off the hook….could have put him away this inning for sure
Yikes….3rd time through the Goldschmidt/Arenado order
Abbott: 5 innings of shutout baseball.
That will do, Andy. That will do.
Gets himself out of his own Jams. Impressive.
11 shut own innings to date.
Abbott survives. Hes got to be setting some sort of rookie record with 11 consecutive scoreless innings to start a career. That sounds pretty good.
AA had 4 Ks thru 3 and hasn’t won my Over 4.5 Ks yet. 1 more inning? I’m thinking he might be done? Note to self…really liked Reds +0.5 run thru 5 and didn’t do it. When in doubt bet both and 1-1 is usually as bad as it gets
I would have bet the under at 9 had I an account. Im rooting for you tho’. Abbott gets a shot at the 6th. Hes good at pitching to contact and changing speeds and mixing pitches so guys are hacking. The old Tom browning had guys coming back to the dugout with a comfortable 0-4 muttering I just missed that one.
I got a $100 bet for a cool $2600 payout when the Reds win the Central.
I’m good with pulling him here. He’s pitched well. First inning was tough.
Yeah; good call. No lead is safe until the game is over.
I hope they give Abbott at least one more start. Kid deserves a chance to prove himself.
LOL, Abbott ain’t going down.
Bad beat on over 4.5 Ks. Had 3-4 guys down 0-2. Oh well
I’m thinking the only way the Reds make the playoffs is 36+ starts from HG and AA and they go something like 25-11 in those games.
Someday you will see the light.
Wainwright going tomorrow. He struggles mightily against the Reds. We have a great chance to win the series.
Gotta win this won first, JB. No lead is safe until the last out.
De La Cruz hahaha Running through the stop sign. Scored. 🙂
I saw Andrew Benintendi in high school run out a triple. Thats what EDLC looks like….except its not high school
third base coach had stop sign up for Elly….he needs to understand who is running….or i mean flying!
Eh, he was pretty dead to rights if the throw was even close to the plate.
He is going to score from first on single at some point, am I right? Or tag at second and score on a deep sac fly? It’s bound to happen.
I think Billy scored from first on a single.
Pretty quiet in the stadium.
Good ‘ol running game. 7 zip. No lead is safe, but this fun. Nice catch by Fairchild last inning.
It would be great if herget could finish this game. Be two solid days of rest in a row for the bullpen.
Bad start from him though do far
Hey, @Greenmtred, regarding Bell, those 3 pitch relief appearances are one of those irritating things about his BP handling
Hes playing for tomorrow and to win the series up 7-0. Probably a good calculated gamble but we shall see. Cards not looking like the same team.
Also Farmer had already warmed up twice. Normally you try to keep relievers from warming up three times in the same game.
This. The constant tinkering with the bullpen cannot be good for the arms of some of these guys in the long-term.
Doesn’t bother me, LDS.
If the Reds get 10 more runs then they probably could use Karcher then.
You’re a gambling man, I see.
+100. If Karcher comes in I am rushing to MGM to bet whatever the over is at that point.
I am liking this Fairchild and Benson more and more. If they can hit 240-250, good luck Barerro and Hopkins.
Well, here we go.
Can we get five outs before they get four runs?
Herget giving up a run for every out he get.
get him out
Please tell me. Am I missing something here? I mean, I have no problem bringing in a guy who just got called up from the minors. But, who in their right mind brings in possibly the 2nd best reliever for 3 pitches just to get to that minor leaguer?
HDTBell does that regularly
Need to buckle down and focus
4 freaking pitch walk 😮
Up 7-0…..let’s bring the tying run to the plate….good god!
Sims….6 walks per 9.
Playing with fire.
Dont have a problem with Herget at 7-0. Do have a problem with leaving him in too long and also only using Farmer for 1 out. Use Farmer for 4 outs and shorten the game. this game just got very long in the 8th inning.
And, that’s the thing. I wouldn’t have much of a problem with Herget coming in for the 1 out, then Farmer for a full inning plus. But, doing that backwards? That’s moronic!
The whole sequence of putting Farmer in the game at that point was completely unnecessary. Could have let Abbott finish the inning or put in Herget to face one batter. It wasn’t really a high leverage situation.
Alexis Diaz ????
If Bell was that committed, why not use Farmer for more than 1 hitter in the 7th? I guess Farmer is the closer tomorrow
it’s a crime if you need to use your closer in a game that was 7-0
Herget will be back on the bus to Louisville tomorrow or Monday. Legumina or Salazar will be coming back by then.
i will drive the bus
That is a full time job! You sure.
Salazar has to stay for a while, unless there’s an injury
Yep, the IL minimum is now 2 weeks plus a day for pitchers except as an injury replacement. But when have the Reds ever gone 15 days without having a real or credible claim for a pitching injury? 😉
C Trent answered my question.
Abbott is first Red since Amir Garrett to start career with 11 scoreless innings. He’s the first player since 1893 to start a career with back to back scoreless 5 innings. That sound good.
Hopefully, AA’s career takes a different path than AG
what happened to Garrett?
Reds player
Glad its Diaz. Don’t screw around.
unless he throws 35/40 pitches & can’t be used tomorrow
Exactly. And he has 18 already.
1 out, 1 run
Bear down
Diaz needed to shake some rust off. Just wish he didn’t run up the pitch count. Anyway, it worked and we take the win today. Always a good thing to beat the WLB Dirty Birds.
Only 20 live pitches! I’m sure he threw more than that warming up in the BP!
Goldschmidt & Arenado both 2 for 4 today BUT Reds win! Always a good day when Reds beat the Dirty Birds! Now let’s win the series tomorrow!
Abbott with 2 starts and 2 wins with an ERA of 0.00! I think this kid is a keeper! What say you?
11.2 innings of scoreless ball is a good start. A few too many pitches (like in the first today). But he seems to pitch within himself.
He definitely has room to improve, especially in reducing the walks!
Hmmmmm maybe. 😉
Biggest head-scratcher for me was Farmer for one quick batter. I get pulling Abbott. But either waste somebody else for that 1/3 inning or let Farmer come back and pitch the 7th. Why HDTBell does that (and we’ve seen it more than a couple times) just makes no sense … 😮
Another of life’s mysteries, I suppose. 😉
Twilight Zone stuff! No rational explanation! Just happy it worked out in the end and the Reds prevailed.
Well Diaz had to give up a run sometime. Today’s win insures the Reds are still ahead of the Cards come Monday. I call that a good day.